Around the world, health experts, trade unionists and social activists have called on Premier Charest and Prime Minister Harper to stop supporting and funding Canada’s deadly asbestos trade.

Demonstrations to stop asbestos export were held on Quebec’s National Day, June 24, in the following cities: Hong Kong, Seoul, Brussels, New York and Washington DC.

See photos above of demonstrations outside the Canadian embassy in London and Paris on Canada Day, July 1. Slogans said:

CANADA : Stop exporting death

CANADA : Stop your lies about asbestos!

Asbestos + Canada SHAME!

Amiante Canada dangerous liaisons (the most literary …)

Canada : leave asbestos in the ground

CANADA’S LEADING MEDICAL ORGANISATIONS SAY “NO” TO ASBESTOS

On June 30, the Quebec Medical Association, representing Quebec’s 9,500 doctors, issued a public statement calling on Premier Charest to end asbestos mining and export and to stop a proposed $58 million Quebec government subsidy to open a new asbestos mine. If it gets this government subsidy, the Jeffery mine plans to export 200,000 tonnes of asbestos a year to developing countries for the next 25 years.

In the past few days, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Public Health Association and the National Specialty Society for Community Medicine have all called on Premier Charest to reject the proposed $58 million subsidy  and instead give public funds to support healthy economic diversification for the mining community. They all called on Premier Charest and Prime Minister Harper to stop supporting the asbestos industry. Canada’s last two asbestos mines are in Quebec. Both are under bankruptcy protection. Both are running out of asbestos. The Jeffrey mine has been closed for the past nine months. The only operating mine, LAB Chrysotile Inc. in Thetford Mines, has approximately 350 workers.

Protests in Seoul, South Korea; Washington DC; New York and Brussels, June 24, 2010

OVERSEAS DEMONSTRATIONS PROTEST EXPANSION OF QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINE

On Quebec’s national day, June 24, protests took place around the world against a proposed Quebec government $58 million subsidy to revive Quebec’s dying asbestos industry. This subsidy would allow the inidustry to open a new Jeffrey underground mine and export 5 million tonnes of asbestos to the developing world over the next twenty-five years.

Quebec’s Jeffrey asbestos mine was the world’s biggest open-pit asbestos mine. For the past century, it exported asbestos all over the world. Today, it is barely surviving. It is under bankruptcy protection and ceased operations last October, having no more asbestos. Industrialized countries, who received Quebec’s vast asbestos exports in the past, today are experiencing asbestos disease epidemics. All these countries have now banned asbestos or, if they haven’t banned it, simply refuse to use it.

Private investors refuse to invest in the mine.The mine owes $50 million to the Quebec Pension Fund and owes $30 million for clean-up costs of the environmental mess its mine has created. Former workers at the Jeffrey mine lost a chunk of their pension funds in the bankruptcy agreement.

Prime Minister Harper and Premier Charest are strong supporters of the asbestos industry and fund the industry’s lobby group, the Chrysotile Institute. Canada is a leading world propagandist for use of asbestos in developing countries.

On June 24, protests against Quebec and Canada took place in Hong Kong, Seoul, Mumbai, New York, Washington DC and Brussels.

Click here for photos of the demonstration in Hong Kong

Veuillez voir la lettre en français ci-dessous

A sign held by demonstrators in Delhi (Photo: Building & Woodworkers International)

Faculté de médecine

Département de médecine sociale et préventive

Université Laval, Québec

March 25, 2010

Dear Premier Charest:

We are extremely disappointed by your response to the letter of February 10, 2010, which asked you to stop wrongly claiming that the World Health Organisation (WHO) supports your position on asbestos.

In fact, far from supporting your position, the WHO has repeatedly called for an end to the use of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile asbestos representing 100% of the world asbestos trade).

We are shocked that, instead of correcting the misinformation about the WHO, your response of March 5 to Dr. Abby Lippman now puts forward further misinformation. Specifically, your letter seeks to justify continued use of asbestos by referring to an International Labour Organization Convention and Resolution of a quarter of a century ago (1986 ILO Convention 162, 1986 Recommendation 172).

Your letter omits to mention, however, that in 2006 the ILO passed a Resolution on Asbestos, which urges ending use of asbestos as “the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos related diseases and deaths”. How could you have failed to mention this in your letter?

Furthermore, this 2006 Resolution specifically says “the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos.” In your letter, M. Charest, are you not doing exactly what the 2006 ILO Resolution specifically says should not be done?

We are also very troubled to find other points in your letter (that exposure of up to one fibre of chrysotile asbestos per cubic centimetre of air, as permitted under Quebec regulations, presents negligible risk; that asbestos is being safely managed in Quebec) which have been completely repudiated by your own government health experts, as well s by the world’s leading health authorities.

We believe that in refusing to heed the position of reputable scientific authorities, such as the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Public Health Institute of Quebec and the WHO, and by putting forward information that is categorically repudiated by the world’s health authorities, your government is betraying both independent science and public health and is allowing the asbestos lobby to set your government’s policy on asbestos.

Moreover, we find it indefensible that, as the result of your government’s policy, those who are thus being exposed to harm from asbestos-related disease and death are amongst the most vulnerable populations in the developing world.

We therefore, with respect, repeat the request for a meeting and repeat the request that you publicly correct the misleading information you have given about the position of the WHO and the ILO.

We look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

DR YV BONNIER VIGER,  MD, Médecin spécialiste en santé communautaire, Professeur au département de médecine sociale et préventive de l’Université Laval, Président de l’Association des médecins spécialistes en santé communautaire du Québec

On behalf of:

DR FERNAND TURCOTTE, MD, Professeur émérite au département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec

DR PIERRE DESHAIES, MD, MSc, CSPQ, FRCPC, Professeur de clinique, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec

DR ABBY LIPPMAN, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Québec

DR PIERRE BIRON, MD,  Professeur retraité, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Québec

DR KAPIL KHATTER, MD, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

DR TIM TAKARO, MD, MPH, MS., Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, BC

DR COLIN SOSKOLNE, Ph.D., Professor (Epidemiology), Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta

DR JOHN LAST, MD, DPH, FRACP, FRCPC FFPH (UK), FACPM, FACE, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario

DR MICHELINE BEAUDRY, Ph.D., Professeure titulaire retraitée, Département des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, FSAA, Université Laval, Québec

KATHLEEN RUFF, Senior advisor on human rights, Rideau Institute on International Affairs, Ottawa, Ontario

Cc: Pauline Marois, chef du Parti Québécois

Gérard Deltell, chef de l’Action démocratique du Québec

Amir Khadir, chef de Québec Solidaire

NOTE: Institutions named for identification purposes only

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Le 25 mars 2010

Monsieur le premier ministre,

Nous sommes extrêmement déçus de la réponse que vous nous avez donnée. Le 10 février dernier nous vous demandions de cesser de prétendre que l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) est d’accord avec votre politique sur l’amiante.

En vérité, l’OMS ne soutient aucunement vos vues et réclame depuis des années qu’on mette fin à toute utilisation de l’amiante, sous toutes ses formes, ce qui vaut pour l’amiante chrysotile qui compte pour 100% du marché contemporain de ce minéral.[1]

Nous sommes consternés du fait qu’au lieu de corriger cette erreur à propos de la position de l’OMS, votre réponse du 5 mars au docteur Abby Lippman rajoute à la désinformation. Votre lettre tente en fait de justifier la poursuite de l’exploitation de l’amiante par une référence à une résolution adoptée par l’Organisation Internationale du Travail, il y a un quart de siècle (1986 OIT Convention 162, 1986 Recommandation 172).

Votre lettre ne dit pas toutefois qu’en 2006, l’OIT a adopté une nouvelle résolution sur l’amiante demandant qu’on cesse d’utiliser l’amiante parce que c’est « le moyen le plus efficace de protéger les travailleurs contre l’exposition à cette substance et ainsi prévenir l’apparition des maladies et des décès liés à l’amiante ».[2] Comment avez-vous pu omettre cette information dans votre lettre?

Mais il y a pis, puisque la résolution de 2006 stipule aussi que « la convention (nº 162) sur l’amiante, 1986, ne devrait pas servir à justifier ou à accepter la poursuite de l’usage de cette substance. » Est-ce que dans votre lettre du 5 mars, vous ne commettez pas précisément ce qu’interdit la résolution 2006 de l’OIT?

D’autres arguments de votre lettre nous plongent dans la perplexité, notamment que l’exposition à une fibre d’amiante par centimètre cube d’air (le niveau élevé permis par le règlement sur la santé et la sécurité du travail) ne constitue qu’un risque négligeable. Ou bien encore que l’amiante soit utilisé d’une manière sécuritaire au Québec. Autant d’énoncés tenus pour invalides tant par les experts en santé de votre gouvernement que par les scientifiques de la santé du monde entier.

Nous estimons que vous n’avez pas le droit de ne pas tenir compte de l’état actuel des connaissances relayées, entre autres, par des organismes comme l’Association médicale du Canada, la Société canadienne du cancer, l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec et l’OMS. Vous n’avez pas non plus le droit de disséminer des informations tenues pour invalides par les autorités sanitaires du monde entier. Ce faisant, votre gouvernement trahit tant la science désintéressée que la santé publique et fait preuve d’irresponsabilité en abandonnant au lobby de l’amiante le soin de définir la politique de l’amiante.

Nous tenons pour indéfendable qu’en raison d’une politique déraisonnable de votre gouvernement, les souffrances et la mortalité provoquées par l’amiante soient exportées vers les populations les plus vulnérables du tiers monde.

Nous réitérons, Monsieur le premier ministre, les demandes que nous vous avons faites, d’une rencontre avec vous et d’une rectification publique des informations erronées que vous avez communiquées à propos des prises de position de l’OMS et de l’OIT.

En attendant votre réponse, nous vous réitérons l’expression de nos sentiments distingués.

DR YV BONNIER VIGER,  MD, Médecin spécialiste en santé communautaire, Professeur au département de médecine sociale et préventive de l’Université Laval, Président de l’Association des médecins spécialistes en santé communautaire du Québec

Au nom de:

DR FERNAND TURCOTTE, MD, Professeur émérite au département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec

DR PIERRE DESHAIES, MD, MSc, CSPQ, FRCPC, Professeur de clinique, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec

DR ABBY LIPPMAN, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Québec

DR PIERRE BIRON, MD,  Professeur retraité, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Québec

DR KAPIL KHATTER, MD, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

DR TIM TAKARO, MD, MPH, MS., Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, BC

DR COLIN SOSKOLNE, Ph.D., Professor (Epidemiology), Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta

DR JOHN LAST, MD, DPH, FRACP, FRCPC FFPH (UK), FACPM, FACE, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario

DR MICHELINE BEAUDRY, Ph.D., Professeure titulaire retraitée, Département des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, FSAA, Université Laval, Québec

KATHLEEN RUFF, Senior advisor on human rights, Rideau Institute on International Affairs, Ottawa, Ontario

Cc: Pauline Marois, chef du Parti Québécois

Gérard Deltell, chef de l’Action démocratique du Québec

Amir Khadir, chef de Québec Solidaire

NOTE: Institutions nommées pour raisons d’identification seulement

[1] Élimination des maladies liées à l’amiante, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_OEH_06.03_fre.pdf; Cancer Control, WHO Guide (page 30) http://www.who.int/cancer/modules/Prevention%20Module.pdf

[2] Résolution concernant d’amiante, Organisation Internationale du Travail, 14 juin 2006

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_gb_297_3_1_fr.pdf

India has a serious problem on its hands... and in its lungs.

Photo: coverpage of publication by International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, http://www.ibasecretariat.org

1. Quebec Liberals rebuff effort to probe asbestos exports
   (Globe and Mail, February 17, 2010)
2. Liberals shoot down opposition request to explore risks of exporting asbestos
   (Winnipeg Free Press, February 17, 2010)
3. Exportation d’amiante – Les libéraux refusent de débattre
   (radio-canada.ca, le 17 février 2010)
4. Les libéraux refusent de débattre sur l’amiante
   (La Presse Canadienne, le 17 février 2010)
5. Khadir veut un débat sur l’amiante
   (Le Soleil, le 17 février 2010)
6. Gestion de l’amiante: Québec solidaire veut remettre la question à l’ordre du jour parlementaire, Comuniqué, Québec Solidaire
   (Portail Quebec, le 17 février 2010)
7. Amiante chrysotile: des propos accablants pour le Canada
   (La Presse, le 17 février 2010)

A group of 14 Canadian physicians, including McGill University’s Abby Lippman and Dick Menzies of the Montreal Chest Institute, sent a letter to Charest yesterday expressing their “shock” at his statements and accusing him of misrepresenting the position of the World Health Organization.

“Premier Charest, you have the right to oppose the WHO position. However, and especially because of the public trust in your position, you do not have the right to misrepresent the WHO position as being what you perhaps wish it were, instead of what it is,” the letter says.

Read the full piece by clicking on this link, or by clicking the “more” link.

On hot seat over asbestos

Physicians attack Premier; Damning report rebuts his contention mineral can have benign uses

By MICHELLE LALONDE, The Gazette, February 12, 2010

Just as a group of prominent Canadian physicians accuse Premier Jean Charest of lying to the public about asbestos, another damning report on the mineral will be published today in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Charest recently returned from a trade mission in India, where anti-asbestos protesters accused his government of hypocrisy for exporting the cancer-causing mineral to developing countries while removing it from Quebec schools and public buildings because of health concerns.

On the trade mission, the premier was quoted in La Presse as saying “Chrysotile (asbestos) can be used in a safe manner; this is what WHO reports say. It is not a banned substance. It is up to the government of India to put the necessary laws in place.”

In fact, the World Health Organization has said that all types of asbestos, including the type mined in Quebec (chrysotile) cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, and recommends against continued use of any form of asbestos. The International Labour Organization adopted a resolution in 2006 urging the elimination of use of all forms of asbestos and of materials containing asbestos.

A group of 14 Canadian physicians, including McGill University’s Abby Lippman and Dick Menzies of the Montreal Chest Institute, sent a letter to Charest yesterday expressing their “shock” at his statements and accusing him of misrepresenting the position of the World Health Organization.

“Premier Charest, you have the right to oppose the WHO position. However, and especially because of the public trust in your position, you do not have the right to misrepresent the WHO position as being what you perhaps wish it were, instead of what it is,” the letter says.

Menzies, a respiratory physician at the Montreal Chest Institute and one of the signatories of the letter, said selling asbestos to countries that clearly lack the resources to enforce workplace safety standards is like selling guns to children. You can say that you warned them about the danger, but it is still morally unacceptable.

“They simply do not have the same workplace safety standards we do here. To argue that it is not a carcinogen is ludicrous. To argue that it’s dangerous, but it is their responsibility to handle it safely is a moral question.”

The physicians have asked for a meeting with the premier on the issue, and also urged him to clarify his statement. Calls by The Gazette to the premier’s office were not returned.

Meanwhile, a report to be published today in the March issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine shows the devastating impact Quebec’s asbestos is having on the health of workers in Mexico who come into contact with the mineral.

The researchers looked at 472 Mexican workers, 119 of whom had been found to have pleural mesothelioma, a fatal lung disease. More than 80 per cent of those with the disease had been exposed to asbestos on the job.

“Our results show a clear relationship between industrial use of all types of asbestos and malignant pleural mesothelioma, and in Mexico the major type of asbestos is chrysotile imported from Canada, confirming that asbestos is a carcinogenic agent that has been recognized as such by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) since 1977,” the report says.

The cost of medical attention for each mesothelioma case during the first year of treatment was estimated at $8,238 U.S.

“The social and economic impact of these diseases and asbestos-related deaths should be absorbed by the industries that have generated the damage and not by the health institutions, as it occurs at present,” the authors conclude.

Read here / Lire ici: Letter to Premier Charest, Feb 10 2010

Quebec Premier Charest challenged by scientists for supporting the science on climate change, but not on asbestos

While Premier Charest is in Vancouver attending the Olympics, a number of scientists and health advocates have issued him a challenge for supporting the science on climate change but not the science on asbestos.

“We are shocked by your statement that your government closed its mind on the asbestos question a long time ago and will not change its position,” Dr Kapil Khatter, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, told Charest.

“Premier Charest, a closed mind is a very dangerous thing, particularly in a political leader,” say the scientists in their letter, sent to Charest today.

The signers agree with Charest’s statement that, politically, asbestos is part of Quebec’s history. They say this does not, however, justify use of asbestos and note that “It is dangerous to substitute politics for science.”

The letter is signed by Prof. Abby Lippman of McGill University, on behalf of scientists from five other universities and health advocates.

“Our question is: why does Premier Charest refuse to listen to his own Quebec experts at his government’s  National Public Health Institute, who oppose his position on asbestos,” said Dr Fernand Turcotte, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Medicine at Laval University and one of the signers. “On what basis does Premier Charest reject the position of the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Cancer Society, who say asbestos use must end?”

“Instead of supporting independent science, Premier Charest is supporting the position of the asbestos lobby group (the Chrysotile Institute),” said Kathleen Ruff of the Rideau Institute. “On Jan. 28, this Institute, which is funded by the Quebec and Canadian governments, put out a press release calling the position of the Canadian Medical Association to ban asbestos “wacko.” It boggles the mind that Premier Charest and Prime Minister Harper are giving tax-payer funds to this industry lobby group and allowing it to set their asbestos policy.”

The group asked to meet with Charest and asked that, if he had been misquoted, he issue a corrected statement of his position on asbestos.

- 30 -

Dr Fernand Turcotte
Kathleen Ruff
Dr Kapil Khatter

Read here / Lire ici: Letter to Premier Charest, Feb 10 2010